Celosia plant named ‘Bkcelpi’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Celosia  plant named ‘Bkcelpi’, characterized by its upright and compact plant habit; freely branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; light red purple-colored flowers arranged on conical compound spikes; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Celosia hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘BKCELPI’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Celosia plant, botanically known as Celosia hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Bkcelpi’.

The new Celosia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new Celosia plants that have unique and attractive flowers, long flowering period and good garden performance.

The new Celosia plant originated from a cross-pollination in June, 2006 in Maasdijk, The Netherlands of a proprietary selection of Celosia hybrida identified as code number 1400009, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Celosia hybrida identified as code number 1400162, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Celosia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands in March, 2007.

Asexual reproduction of the new Celosia plant by cuttings in a controlled environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands since June, 2007 has shown that the unique features of this new Celosia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Celosia have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Bkcelpi’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Bkcelpi’ as a new and distinct Celosia plant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Light red purple-colored flowers arranged on conical compound         spikes.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Celosia differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Celosia are taller than plants of the         female parent selection.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Celosia are narrower than leaves         of plants of the female parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Celosia and the female parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection         have bright pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Celosia differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Celosia are taller than plants of the male         parent selection.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Celosia have apiculate apices         whereas leaves of plants of the male parent selection have short         acuminate apices.     -   3. Plants of the new Celosia and the male parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection         have pale salmon-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Celosia can be compared to plants of Celosia ‘Caracas’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Celosia differed primarily from ‘Caracas’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Pants of the new Celosia and ‘Caracas’ differed in leaf         color.     -   2. Plants of the new Celosia flowered earlier than plants of         ‘Caracas’.     -   3. Plants of the new Celosia and ‘Caracas’ differed in flower         color as plants of ‘Caracas’ had purple-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Celosia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Celosia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Bkcelpi’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Bkcelpi’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in 11-cm containers during the early spring in a glass-covered greenhouse in Maasdijk, The Netherlands and under commercial practices. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 19° C. to 20° C. and night temperatures averaged 19° C. Plants were pinched one time and were 15 weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Celosia hybrida ‘Bkcelpi’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Celosia             hybrida identified as code number 1400009, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Celosia             hybrida identified as code number 1400162, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About ten days at 20° C. to             21° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About twelve days at 20° C.             to 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 21 days             at 20° C. to 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 24 days             at 20° C. to 21° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; white in             color.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderate branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Herbaceous annual typically             grown as a potted plant; upright plant habit; narrow             inverted triangle; freely branching habit with about six             lateral branches developing per plant; moderately vigorous             growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 42.5 cm.         -   Plant width (spread).—About 27.2 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 28.2 cm. Diameter: About             7 mm. Internode length: About 8 mm. Texture: Smooth,             glabrous. Color: Between 176B and 177B to 177C; ribs,             between 146B to 146C and 184B to 184C. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; simple.         -   Length.—About 5.8 cm.         -   Width.—About 3 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate to narrowly ovate.         -   Apex.—Apiculate.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to             143A. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137B             to N137C; central blotch, close to 203B to 203C; venation,             close to 152C. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 146A; venation, slightly darker than 195A.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 1.2 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 148B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and arrangement.—Single sessile rotate flowers             arranged in conical terminal compound spikes; flowers face             upright and outwardly.         -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering habit with about 800             flowers per inflorescence.         -   Fragrance.—Faint, slightly moldy.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about ten             weeks after planting; flowering continuous from early April             until the autumn in The Netherlands.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Inflorescences last about ten days             on the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 8.9 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 5.8 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 6 mm.         -   Flower height.—About 9 mm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 9 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close to 63C.         -   Petals.—None observed.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically eight. Length: About             9 mm. Width: About 2.5 mm. Shape: Narrowly ovate. Apex:             Narrowly acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 63C. Fully opened, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 73C; color becoming closer to 63C with             development.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 8.5 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Angle: Upright to about 35° from vertical. Strength:             Moderately strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close             to 184A to 184B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically             five. Filament length: Close to 3 mm. Filament color: Close             to 67B to 67C; towards the base, close to 148D. Anther             length: About 1 mm. Anther shape: Lanceolate. Anther color:             Close to 177C to 177D. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color:             Close to 156A. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Length:             About 4 mm. Stigma shape: Club-shaped. Stigma color: Close             to 67B. Style length: About 3.5 mm. Style color: Close to             67B to 67C. Ovary color: Close to 148C to 148D.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed on plants of the new Celosia. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Celosia have not been     noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Celosia. -   Gardent performance: Plants of the new Celosia have been observed to     have good garden performance and have good tolerance to rain and     wind. Plants of the new Celosia have been observed to tolerate high     temperatures of about 35° C. and to be hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone     9. 

1. A new and distinct Celosia plant named ‘Bkcelpi’ as illustrated and described. 